More time passed as Will stayed between worlds alone again. Bill noticed his son's pain. He spent countless hours talking with Will and dong all he could to help. The crew even provided comfort. None just knew of his pain. Emotion seemed too far to grasp again. He only felt pain and loneliness.

"We need to travel back to the true world," said Will, going to his father. "Another ship has been caught in Calypso's fury."

"It will do you good to go back," added Bill nodding.

Through the moonlit Caribbean Sea, one ship lay in the water half floating. The mast still smoldered and burned. Bodies floated alongside and in debris. Beside the smoldering ship was another ship, perfectly intact and appeared to be assisting the crew.

Will gazed at the scene. This was not Calypso's doing. It was something else.

The Dutchman's crew went aboard the ship with lanterns.

Will dragged along slowly. He gazed at the bodies again. They soon would meet him. Some of the men wore red coats though. Will leaned over. This ship had a run in with the Royal Navy. The assisting men appeared to be normal sailors, merchants perhaps.

"Excuse me? Who is your captain?" Will asked.

"Alex," replied one.

"And where can I find this Alex?" wondered Will.

"Hold on. Alex!"

"What? I'm a little busy at the moment!" a voice called from behind them.

"Someone looking for you."

"I'm coming. I'm coming."

As Will turned his head, his gaze met his father's. Bill Turner stared at the doors with disbelief on his face, but a small smile began widening as he stepped forward.

"Alex?" he asked quietly.

"Billy?"

Hearing that voice, Will whipped around. A very long time ago, he heard that voice. That voice belonged to a man with identical eyes to his and golden curls and a sly smile and a beaten, abused body and the youngest, finest physician the English speaking world could offer. He smiled as his father and his Uncle Alexander were in a tight embrace. His uncle hadn't changed since he last remembered him. It was still his Uncle Alexander the Great.

Deciding it best to give his father and uncle, he hung back in the distance and grabbed one of the ratlines with a smirk on his face. He knew his father and uncle met the last time he saw his uncle when he was fifteen and that was eight years ago. Tears were pouring from his uncle's closed eyes, but the smile on his face was welcoming enough for Will.

"Will?" a voice asked slowly.

Will turned his head then half his body. "Hello Christian."

Christian continued to gaze at Will with his mouth agape. A smile widened on his lips.

Will slowly stepped forward. "Yes, it is little Will, not Billy. As you can see my father is contently in my Uncle Alex's arms at the moment."

"Just like I have you settled in mine," whispered Christian as he wrapped his arms around Will's body.

It was Will's turn to shut his eyes and smile. The last time he was held by someone who he grew up with as his other uncle was when he was nine years old.

Christian pulled away to place his palm on Will's cheek. "You're so big. I know you aren't nine anymore or looking up to me, but I can't get over how big you are. You look exactly like your father, but there is a bit of your mother in you. The perfect curls and exact eyes and gentle features, but that smile on your face is your father's."

"I know," Will told him with a nod. "We've been together for over five months. Although he's still not telling me some things." He turned his back on Christian to face his father and uncle. "Hello, Uncle Alexander the Great, I exist here."

Bill chuckled as he pushed Alexander from his arms. He motioned past Alexander with his head.

Alexander's eyes narrowed in confusion and when he turned his head, he saw the most wonderful sight there was to see. There was his grown nephew standing in the middle of deck with a huge smile on his face and his laughter ringing in the air. Alexander stepped forward until he was standing in front of Will to brushed his fingers along a loose curl.

"It is me," whispered Will.

"I know," replied Alexander before throwing his arms around Will's back. "I love you Will. I love you so much."

"I love you too Uncle Alex," said Will.

Alexander abruptly pulled away and left a firm grip of his fingers around Will's arms. "What are you doing here?"

"Um. I. Eh…" was all Will managed from his mouth.

"Captain, get over here. These two only have minutes," Maccus called.

"I'll be right back," Will said to Alexander then turned on his heels.

He pushed past a few of the men standing around to a pile of fallen mast and sail. Two men were exposed to the sunlight and half the Dutchman crew surrounding them. He knelt by them.

One looked at Will in horror. "You be Davy Jones. I'll have nothing to do with ye," he said weakly.

The other shook his head. "No, he's not him. I've seen Davy Jones. He's…" he broke off and called out in pain.

Leaning closer, Will saw part of the mast coming form his belly. The other sailor was missing half of his side.

"Do it son," Bill told him.

"Do you fear death?" Will asked.

"No, and I'll have nothing to do with ye cursed ship. I know the stories," the one said.

Will nodded. He looked at his father and nodded. His eyes squeezed shut and head turned away. He hated this. There was nothing more he hated, but it was not his choosing. It was either agree to join the crew or find peace with a swift blade through the heart. Perhaps he dreaded it so because every other human being had a heart to run through but him. Or, perhaps, he hated it because it was more work to be done when he returned to his world.

The other man softly whimpered and Will knew that was his sign.

"Do you fear death?" asked Will.

"Yes," the sailor replied hoarsely. He choked up blood.

"Will you serve one hundred years before the mast?" asked Will.

The sailor struggled to speak much less breathe. His eyes were falling shut. "I will serve," he agreed, barely loud enough for them to hear.

Will nodded and pulled the mast from the man's belly.

Suddenly, the sailor breathed easily again. His eyes were alive. He squeezed them shut a few times. Once his vision cleared, he saw a hand held out. He took Will's hand.

"Welcome to the crew," greeted Will as he helped the man to his feet.

"What about them?" asked the sailor, looking at the bodies.

"Their bodies will have whatever fate Calypso chooses. Their souls, you will help me with," replied Will.

The man gave him a confused look.

"No, no, no, no, no."

Will drew a deep breath as he turned around. He did not raise his head as he pulled on a chain around his neck until the key was exposed beside the scar. "Aye, I'm captain," he whispered.

"Billy," began Alexander, stepping toward him. "He's joking right? This is just some practical joke you two thought of to get back at me for something I did in the past right? Please tell me this is a joke."

Knowing of no other way and not mentally having the heart to tell him, Will grabbed his uncle's hand and pressed his palm against the center of his chest. He watched as Alexander's eyes filled with tears in such an amount that the first few tears to fall from the brown orbs left to trace on his face, but the rest to come followed the paths down both cheeks.

Breathing softly and deeply, Alexander felt what meant dead to him. He was told long ago that if someone did not have a heartbeat that someone was dead. Will felt dead, but Will was so very alive and standing in front of him. Why Will? Of all people in the world, of the millions and millions of people, his beloved nephew had to find himself cursed upon this ship.

"How? Why?" he whispered.

"Are you busy?" asked Will.

"No," replied Christian. "I can play physician and surgeon quite well too. You go talk to him."

"Come on," said Will, walking past him and from the sunken ship to his organ chamber.

He sat on one of the cushioned armchairs off to the side of the room where he and his father spent many hours talking and laughing with each other. He wished he and his uncle could spend a few hours laughing and talking with each other. Unfortunately, he had to explain something to someone who would return home and have to tell the rest of the world his story. Expecting them to be in the room already, Will raised his head and opened his mouth. His dilemma became a half smile as he realized he didn't exactly walk across the two ships by means of a physical manor. He literally walked across the water and through half his ship to get here with the blink of an eye.

Rushed feet a few moments later gave him the indication his uncle and the normal manor of crossing two ships was done.

"Sorry, I forget that normal humans can't do that," Will said.

"You don't have to tell me everything, just tell me why it was you," said Alexander.

"I have to tell you everything for you to understand," Will said.

"But you can sum it up for him," said Bill.

"Please," said Alexander, as he sat in the other armchair.

"Long story short," began Will, moistening his lips. He sighed and began the tale. "Nearly three years ago, Jack Sparrow happened to run into me in Port Royal. That night Barbossa came under the curse of the Aztec Gold. You know about that right?"

"Eight hundred eight two identical gold pieces. Cortez stole them and the gods cursed the chest for the bloodshed that he caused when he took it. Located in Isla de Muerta," said Alexander. He raised his hands in emphasis then motioned them at Bill. "Will, my brother was under that curse. He sent a piece to you remember? I know the story. The trio from the Golden Age of Piracy was in search of it to begin with. I know everything there can be known about that chest."

"Answers that question," Will muttered to himself. "Anyway, Barbossa came that night and took Elizabeth Swann. Me, being the naïve little thing I was at the time, sprung Jack from prison and we hunted down Barbossa and broke the curse. Because I knew Jack was a good man and a good friend, I helped him escape his hanging and Elizabeth and I declared our love for each other. Yes, it was as simple as that. Elizabeth and I were engaged to be married."

"Hold on, hold on, hold on," interrupted Alexander, waving his hands in the air. "Did you say Elizabeth Swann?"

"I know, I know. Yes, Elizabeth and I are married and it is the Elizabeth you are thinking of. I ripped her dress when I was seven," said Will.

"My father owes me ten pounds," announced Alexander. "I told him you would somehow still marry her after you ran away. I told him you went to the Caribbean to find your father and when Weatherby announced that he was accepting the position as Governor of Jamaica I knew you two would somehow meet and marry."

"Yes well everything would have been fine until the day Cutler Beckett showed up in Port Royal and arrested me on the morning of my wedding day," said Will, forcing a smile and to not go off on his usual rampage.

"I should have warned you about that," noted Alexander.

"You knew he was coming and you didn't warn me?" asked Will.

"I was having my own midlife crisis going on at that time. I'll explain later," said Alexander.

"Anyway, Elizabeth was arrested too. I learned that Beckett wanted Jack's compass and he sent me off and a grand adventure to search for Jack Sparrow in return for Elizabeth's life. I found Jack on an island of cannibals and I was nearly the main course in a feast for Jack."

"Stumbled upon that island I did once. They thought I was king just because I had a few gold rings and earrings and necklaces on that day. Thank God for Christian O'Neal and his long naps. He saved me from being the main course in my own honor of releasing me from my fleshy prison," noted Alexander.

Will couldn't hide the outburst of laughter. "They were going to do the same to Jack too."

"I can understand why if Jack has as many gold teeth and beads and shiny objects on him as he always has," said Alexander.

Bill smacked his palm against his forehead. "I'm going to regret saying this, however they believed I was a king too. Yes, I ran into that same little cannibal island of pelegostos. They believed I was god of the sea because my eyes are the color of the sea. Instead of eating me, they had every intention of drowning me and letting my flesh rot away by the sea life and in return eating the sea life that ate me."

Both Alexander and Will howled with laughter. Alexander held his sides and slid down the armchair. Will simply fell from the chair and sat on the floor leaning against the cushions not breathing, but laughing. Because of the lack of air supplied in his lungs the laughter was silent.

"All right you two. Alex you have to breathe to live. William, get up and continue," said Bill.

"It is wonderful to hear your laughter again," admitted Alexander, wiping his eyes of the tears.

Will nodded as he shakily sat himself on the cushions again. He ran the back of his hand across his eyes and sniffled. To his surprise and delight, there was a sharp pain in both sides. "My sides hurt from laughing."

"You are still human," reminded Bill.

"It's more simple than you think to forget," admitted Will.

"All right, what happened," Alexander said, regaining his noble composure.

"After we rescued Jack and the crew, we headed for Tia Dalma's little shack," began Will.

"What do you think of her?" wondered Alexander.

"You have no idea," Will and Bill said in unison.

"I never met her once a day in my life or knew she existed. Keep that in mind," Will told him. "I walked into her little home and she approached me with the words 'you have a touch of destiny about you William Turner'. Little did I know then that that little destiny of mine is what I am now. We squabbled and Jack learned that the Kraken was after him and received a jar of dirt. We also learned where this key was. Jack tricked me aboard this ship and I was part of a trade for his life. Through a series of incidents I discovered my father and we talked. I learned where the key was and he got me off the ship, but not after I had fallen asleep in his arms for a while." He paused a moment to share a small smile with his father. "The next day, Jones sent the Kraken after me because I had the key. The Kraken sunk the ship I was on and my father thought I was dead, but I hid out on the ship and got a ride to Isla Cruces where the chest was. You know about the chest right?"

"Dead Man's Chest. The chest that holds the beating heart of the captain of the Flying Dutchman," said Alexander sadly looking at the scar.

Will shifted positions in his chair specifically to hide the scar from his uncle. "We fought, Jack Sparrow, James Norrington, and I. Oh, James gave Jack a day's head start and he lost in the venture to get Jack back. Shamed by the Navy, he resigned his commission and ended up in Tortuga until Jack and Elizabeth met up there where he told her how to get to the chest by means of his compass that is broken to all who don't know how to read it. But yes, um, right, the crew from this ship was mixed up in the fight as well. James managed to get away with the heart Jack hid in his jar of dirt and we were left back on the Pearl. Obviously the Kraken got Jack and the Pearl and we had nowhere else to go but Tia Dalma. Barbossa came back from being shot by Jack on Isla de Muerta. Tia brought him back. Elizabeth and I didn't talk until after we arrived in Singapore. I thought she loved Jack because she kissed him to chain him to the mast so we wouldn't die by associated with Jack Sparrow. We got the charts from Sao Feng, traveled to Jones' Locker in the other world. Jack was completely insane. We learned of the true duty belonging to this ship. Tia Dalma kindly gave me another incite to this fate. Elizabeth's father was killed. We came back to this world. Every one of us crossed each other so matters didn't turn out well. Elizabeth was taken with Sao Feng and I was trying to complete my own ends. Jack helped me get to Beckett and they went onto Shipwreck Cove. While the Pirate Lords decided if there was to be war or not I got my own ends with Beckett. We met in Parlay. There was a battle. Jones stabbed me right before Jack was going to make himself captain of this ship. Jack gave up his chance of immortality for me so I could have some sort of a life. We won the battle and the Navy fled and I had to say goodbye to Elizabeth and I've been here since. Am I missing anything Father?"

"You got it all," said Bill.

"Then it's a gift," Alexander said softly as if speaking a prayer. "You being captain is a gift then, not a choice you chose poorly. It was half life or death and clearly someone couldn't live in this world without you."

"I haven't heard from him at all. The last thing I know from Jack Sparrow is his hand helping mine stab the heart," said Will. He slumped back into his chair and his forehead creased with sorrow. "I miss him. I wish we could talk."

"I think he misses you too Will, but you know Jack. He'll come when he's ready," said Bill.

"Where is the chest?" wondered Alexander.

"Can you do me a favor?" asked Will.

Leaning forward, Alexander softly grinned at his nephew as he grabbed Will's hand into his palm. "Of course."

"Four months from now, can you be at an island for me? The island is small and most likely not on a map, but I'll give you the coordinates," said Will.

"What's on this island?"

"My wife and unborn child," Will told him.

"Child," Alexander said softly.

"Yes, I'm going to be a father. I'm going to be a father who will never be there because I can't. The last time a husband and father was not there both mother and child died and I can't stop thinking about that. Ever since she told me she was with child, all I have thought about is the last time someone I knew was going to have a child. I want you to be there for me not only because you're a medical genius, but because you're the closest to me she can have," Will told him.

"No promises and you and I both know it's not your father's fault he wasn't there," said Alexander.

"If he wouldn't have gone on that one last treasure run—"

"William Alexander Jonathan," Bill called, making his presence in the room once again known. "You know why I went on that last treasure run. I've told you many times before. What happened happened. I can't change the past and more than you can change the fate you have upon yourself. You can wish and hope and pray all you want, but you can't change fate."

"I know," said Will, confidently announcing his answer. "I just wish."

"Me too," said Bill.

"You two aren't the ones who have to go back to London and tell the rest of the family where you two are," said Alexander.

Will exchanged glances with his father both knowing Alexander had it the worst off of them.

"You know, you should bring them out sometime to see us. It's been too many years since I've seen my cousin," said Will.

Alexander smiled at that comment. "If you bring your cousin then his wife Marie and two year old daughter Jocelyn follow you know."

"Dirk's married!" Will cried.

"Dirk. Dirk as in my brother's little boy?" asked Bill.

Alexander nodded his head. "He met Marie in Paris and taught her English himself. She is the daughter of Michel Beaulieu, the same daughter who went missing when she was ten years old. Dirk met her when she was fourteen to his fifteen. To put it modestly, she was a girl who was trained to give men pleasures in the night. She was paid to feed men's intimate needs if you know what I mean."

"What the hell was Dirk doing in that part of Pairs?" asked Bill, his face red with shock.

"You know that optional summer stay in Paris at the end of the sixth year of school, the one father refused to let Gabriel and I go on?" asked Alexander. Bill nodded. "Dirk somehow went on it with a few of his other fifteen year old friends who had not yet entered their sixth year of school. Keep in mind, Dirk somehow managed to convince Gabe to let him go sailing with a few of his friends. By that point, Dirk was receiving his schooling by home means, which you already know. They got to Paris and every boy went out that night, including Dirk. It was a bet between them all and Dirk being the youngest having just turned fifteen a month previous, was press ganged into picking a girl. That girl just happened to be Marie and it was her first night serving men so the two of them were new at the in bed aspects of life. He fell in love that night and bought her freedom when he was eighteen and married her that same year. Of course, he didn't really have to buy her at all. He got pregnant that summer before he was going to buy her and she was thrown on the streets for getting herself with child. She told him who she really was and so he met her there and a few months later they were married and Dirk was a father at eighteen years old. He's done wonderful and his little girl is his life."

"He was eighteen when he became a father?" asked Will softly. Alexander nodded. "He's lucky. I want to be father so badly. I would have loved to have gotten Elizabeth pregnant when she was eighteen. Weatherby would have made us get married and none of this would have happened."

"You mean to say you couldn't just marry the girl?" asked Alexander with a laugh. "You're William Seastone, third in line for the empire. I didn't think Weatherby was that tight about who she would marry."

"Actually, Alex, no one knew he was a Seastone. He didn't tell anyone so word couldn't spread back to London and the cavalry come drag him back home. By using the name Turner, he hoped that got around enough so any who knew where I was or myself hear could tell him where I was," Bill told him.

"And that is why I never told anyone but father where you were and he couldn't blame you for not saying anything," said Alexander.

"You said something earlier about having your own mid life dilemma about the time Beckett came," reminded Will.

"Hm? Oh, right that," said Alexander. "I'll just show you since you probably know about my abusive childhood, teen hood, and most of my adulthood."

"Unfortunately yes and I'd like to give grandfather a piece of my mind," said Will.

Alexander chuckled as he sat himself from the back of the chair. He turned his back to Will and lifted his tunic.

"All see are the scars from the lashes," said Will.

Once, long ago, his uncle suffered something no mortal man should have survived. Alexander was taken captive and tortured nearly to death. Near of fifty hard lashes were whipped against his back among the countless beatings and starvation. What should have been tanned fleshy skin covering his torso worth of his back was now pink and pale discoloration with tan scar lines coming out of the mess. However, there was one scar running his spine that seemed rather recent compared to the rest.

"I finally got the courage to let Ewan cut into my back and move the dislocated pieces of my spine to where they should be. I spent a month lying unconscious and being fed through the method of everything liquefied. Another two months were wasted away in bed as I regained my strength and fat. Father and I finally made up and he hasn't had a drink in over three years. We have our moments, but I can't remember our relationship being better than it has since before I was twelve," explained Alexander.

"How about this for the beginning of your father son relationship," said Will, exposing his own back.

"Will, do you have to?" questioned Bill, turning his head away.

Alexander's fingers traced the five markings on his nephew's back. These scars were recently new, but light. Skin was punctured, but not like it should have been. "Someone was kind enough to use the phrase 'you scratch my back I'll scratch yours'. He used the term called scratching. Breaking the surface of skin looks as bad as deeply puncturing. You were fortunate—the beginning of your father son relationship. What do you mean by that?"

"That's how I met my father on the Dutchman," said Will. "An act of compassion."

"Which I will never forgive myself for," Bill announced softly.

"An act of compassion that caused your son much less pain than he knows," said Alexander.

"Anyway," said Will loudly announcing it was time to change the subject of conversation. "How are things at home?"

"Good," replied Alexander. "I've been attending Parliamentary sessions rather than father. He's as healthy as he was, but he likes to have some time off for himself as well. He mostly goes to them though. Colleen and the children are great. Felicity is eleven and in school. Thomas is just a little eight year old but thinks he's ready for Parliament. Gabriel's business is booming and Dirk's happily raising his little girl and helping his father's carpentry. In their spare time, the two like to write children's books. Father is doing well. He is sixty four so he's very old. Everyone swears he's never going to die. He's so very healthy. We just had the holiday party and everyone made the comment that he's as healthy can be."

Will inhaled a sharp breath of air. With wide eyes he whipped his head to his uncle. "What do you mean you just had the holiday party?"

"The celebration was two weeks ago. Father's birthday is this Sunday the twenty third. It's November eighteenth," said Alexander.

"Oh, Will, I'm so sorry," said Bill, rushing to his son's side and wrapping his arms around him. "We were ferrying souls. We were busy. I forgot your birthday. I'm so sorry."

"It doesn't matter. I can't age anyway," Will told him as he pushed his father from his person and quickly walked from the room.

"He doesn't look like he's taken to this duty very well," noted Alexander.

"He's eternally twenty two, without a heart, on this ship not by choice, has none of his friends, separated from his wife, and is going to have a son," noted Bill. "Would you take to it very well?"

Completely crushed, Will sat in his hammock swinging back and forth staring out into the horizon hoping to become the horizon to forget what he was just told. He would have been twenty three August twenty second, nearly two and a half months ago. It would have been his birthday. Even though he wasn't going to age, having a celebration would have been nice. But no, they had to spend that day ferrying souls of the dead on a duty he was unfairly charged with. If he wasn't captain, he and Elizabeth could have celebrated his birthday together with Jack Sparrow. He was intending on sailing with Jack until they decided where they would settle down if they wanted to settle down. He could have had his birthday celebration on the Black Pearl. The last birthday he had they were nearly to Singapore. Barbossa gave his best effort to have a small celebration. Hector Barbossa remembered his birthday in the middle of the Pacific Ocean while his own father forgot. Something was very wrong with that thought.

Frustrated and angered, he let out a cry and threw his pillow across the room barely missing his uncle.

"I come with no intention of harm," announced Alexander, raising his palms.

"He forgot my birthday," said Will. "I know I'm not going to age and I know I forgot my own birthday, but he's my father and he forgot. He's not supposed to forget."

"He feels horrible Will. Trust me. He was beginning to breakdown in tears when I left," said Alexander.

"Good," Will snapped, turning back to the sea.

Alexander's lips moved to the side as he stepped forward cautiously. He set his palms on Will's shoulders then began kneading his palm and fingers into Will's muscles, massaging the tension. His words were soft and comforting. "I know you think being captain is your punishment and no one can suffer it as badly as you are. The truth Will, is that you father is suffering you being captain more you are yourself. He has to watch you live everyday without your heart and bear such a burden unfairly yours. After I found you, I found your father on this ship by fate of chance. I told him where you were and of you. He told me not to tell you where he was because he didn't want you going out to look for him and end up on the ship yourself. He feared nothing more than seeing you on this ship with him. I know what you are thinking. 'You could have told me that sooner Uncle Alex'. Promise me you won't be so hard on your father. He's doing the best he can."

"And when I am in this world I find that emotions are more simple to come by and I cannot control them," said Will. "What happened down there was a random amount of emotion that I don't know where it came from."

"Again, don't blame everything on your father. He loves you more than he ever loved my sister. You are his everything in life. Having you was his reason for living. You, Will Turner, are your father's reason for life. Any good father will feel that way of his son, including you I expect," noted Alexander. He wrapped his arms around Will's torso much like his father did. "In fact, I think your child will become your world. You were born to be a father Will. I don't know any other nine year olds who dreamed of the day he could be a father."

"Did father want me?" Will found himself asking aloud.

"Your father wanted you so badly. The day you were born was more glorious than his own wedding day. Instead of Charlotte getting up to get you at night, he gladly sprung to his feet. I swear there were nights he laid awake waiting for you to cry so he could rock you to sleep with a lullaby," said Alexander.

"He still does," whispered Will. He leaned his head back until it fell into his uncle's chest. "He believes I'm sleeping. Nearly every time I need to sleep, I'll hear the door open about an hour after I lie down. I will lay there awake just so I can feel his fingers through my hair and feel the gentle caresses against my cheek and the warm kisses on my forehead. I love feeling him tuck my blanket tighter around me. What I love most is hearing him sing my lullaby in Gaelic. He's working on writing me a new lullaby. He'll sit at my side and I'll fall asleep listening to him humming and muttering words to himself. I don't think I could have survived the past five months without him."

"And you won't have to survive without me."

Will shut his eyes and sighed. Of course, his father was standing in the doorway. It was his lack of good fortune that brought about circumstances like that. Although, it wasn't such a lack of good fortune this time around. He needed his father to hear that.

"I'm sorry for what happened down there. You know me and emotion. Being in this world for too long brings feelings back into my body that I don't have in our world."

"And I to accept a few things," Bill admitted knowing the fault was on two accounts.

Alexander snapped his fingers. "I have an idea. Why don't we celebrate your birthday right here right now while I'm still here."

"We don't have anything," said Will. "I'd rather wait and have a true birthday celebration than have all of you try to make it come together."

"Then you don't want the cake I stole from a bakery or the gifts I rounded up with the crew?" asked Bill.

"What?" Will cried, leaping from the cot.

"You stole a cake in that short amount of time?" wondered Alexander. Bill nodded. "You're fast."

"Actually, I had the crew round up a few food items and I got a few gifts," said Bill. His hands that were behind his back were brought forward presenting a cloth wrapped object. "This is one thing I know you'll need."

Not sure what to say, Will looked at him. He felt like an idiot now. He caused his father to round up the entire crew and whip together a birthday celebration in all of ten or so minutes. They should have been doing their duty and assisting the dying crew and the fallen men, but here they were about to have a birthday celebration in his honor. There was something more wrong with that than Barbossa remembering his birthday and his father not remembering.

"Well, go on," said Bill, pushing the object against Will.

Still not approving of this, Will took the object anyway and was surprised that it was not a solid object. The object beneath the cloth was rather soft and warm. He pulled the cloth away and his entire face lit with a glow.

"Teachy," he whispered.

Memories of himself being three and four and five and six flashed through his mind. This parrot was made by his mother after his father carved and painted a scarlet macaw. After his father left, his mother stitched pieces of bright red cloth together, forming a parrot and stuffed him with plenty of sheep wool. The feathery tail was mostly red but had thickly folded individual colored cloth sewn into the red strip resembling the vibrant tail. Feet and legs were formed through the same thickly folded cloth method and with a brown color. The beak was, again, in the same manor with black cloth. Both Eyes were individual white circles and blue orbs. Cut and feathered pieces of cloth were the loose feathers on top his head. Through the love of a child, the parrot became tattered, stained, faded, stitched, and patched. He slept with his companion every night. Teachy was his best friend who he did everything with. He didn't go anywhere without him. They played in the yard together, went swimming in the pond together, got ill together, ate dinner together, were scolded together, and they did just about everything. The parrot was as tall as his forearm and wide as his head. When he was a child, his companion was nearly as big as he was and he loved his parrot with the same heart.

"Teachy," he whispered, cradling the parrot close to his face. He inhaled deeply. A grin widened across his face. "Mum swore she was going to dispose of him. I remember that day. Mum presented me with a new Teachy. He was perfectly healed as she told me. As a child, I thought she cleaned this parrot and patched him up. Then, one day, I found this parrot back on my bed with a note: Don't let your mother find out you have him. She wants to dispose of him. This is your Teachy, the one she made after the carving your father gave to you. Keep him safe and hidden from her, but continue loving him as I love you. Uncle Alexander the Great. I kept him wrapped in a small blanket on the top left corner of my toy chest with toys buried around him." He cuddled the parrot against his chest, suddenly becoming three years old again. His eyes opened as he turned to his father with confusion. "This was at home."

"The small lake in the yard goes to the stream which flows to the Thames and out to the English Channel and into the ocean. As long as there is water, sea water, you and I can travel wherever we want. But," said Bill and specifically emphasizing there was a catch. "There is no method around the lake for not touching land."

Joy across Will's face suddenly ended. The glow he bore mere moments ago dimmed like a dying candle in the night. His head bowed and eyes lowered. "Probably best," he told himself. "I shouldn't be spending my time where I'm not needed."

"I only went back to retrieve your parrot," said Bill.

"If I was to um let us say, drop things in the lake would you get them here?" asked Alexander slyly.

"I don't know," replied Will.

"Let me know and if the answer is yes then you'll find a few accommodates of home winding up here," said Alexander. "And if not then I'll personally see to it they reach this ship. Now I want cake."

"How did you bring an entire cake here?" Will quietly asked as he and his father walked out side by side.

Bill shrugged. "I told them to figure it out."

Will looked at him with a raised eyebrow. He shook his head expecting an entire cake to be nothing more than a few pieces of frosted pastries and he certainly wasn't expecting to see a five tier cake sitting on a table in the middle of quarter deck with china plates, silverware, wine and rum, and sandwiches surrounding it.

"I like the cake," noted Bill.

His mouth agape, Will turned his head to him. He pointed at his birthday cake. "How did you?"

"In pieces," replied Wyvern. "I put them back together."

Apparently it was going to be a small birthday celebration, for the men on the other ship that were able, invited themselves to cake as well as the crew of his uncle's ship. The five tiers on the cake were just the right amount. Will got the smallest tier to himself and the rest was divided among the crew. Somehow, they managed to get his most favored combination of cake: chocolate with butter cream icing. He suspected his father had some hand in telling them what he liked the best. None of the crew gave him any birthday gifts, but his father did give him a hat and a journal. What he intended to get for Will had yet to be made in London and Scotland.

Following cake, the alcohol was brought out and they spent the following afternoon drinking and celebrating. The crew spent the afternoon drinking and celebrating. Will was more content sitting beside his uncle on the helm stairs simply feeling his arm around him. They didn't say much, but there were no words that needed to be said. Being in each other's company was better. Words would ruin their small and rare moments together. But, come sunset, the seas roughened and that was notion enough for Will to understand it was his time to leave.

"Promise me you'll be there for her," whispered Will to his uncle's shoulder.

"I'll try my best. That's all I can promised you," said Alexander. "And you find some means of communicating with us. I'll somehow arrange a visit to you."

Will nodded. "Please do that. In the meantime, send them my love."

"That I can promise," Alexander said as he released his arms from around Will. "For the record, the man who you asked to join, his name is Edward Raven and there is more to him that meets the eye."

Will gave a look at this light brown hair, hazel eyed young man speaking with the crew. "He has a good soul."

"He's a good man and I'm glad he's here," said Alexander with a smile on his face.

"You better not be leaving without saying goodbye to your older brother," Bill called as he approached and grabbed Alexander's body to pull into an embrace.

"Actually, I was just thinking about walking away and seeing how long it would take you to realize I was gone," said Alexander. He felt a jab in side. "I was joking."

"Better be," said Bill.

The brothers separated and Alexander stood there looking at the father and son. He smiled at the sight. Although the circumstance that brought them together was tragically unfortunate, it was a wonderful sight to bestow and he only wished the rest of the family was there to see it. All in good time. Will was only a call away supposedly. He would be all right with his father.

"Well, I bid you farewell," he said. "Big brother and little nephew." He caught the smirk Will gave him before turning on his heels and returning to the ship to assist the men onto his own vessel, but few steps later he turned his head with one more thought on mind. "And Will, looks like you're captain of your own ship and you and father get to sail together after all."

The most glorious sight to turn his back to was Will's huge, wide tooth grin and Bill wrapping his arm around Will's shoulder.

"We should go," noted Will.

Bill nodded sadly. "Mm hm. We'll see him again."

"I'm confident about that," Will said softly.

As captain, he followed instinct and grabbed the wheel of his ship. Before he turned the wheel and giving sight to the green flash at sunset, he searched the deck of the Trojan Horse and found his uncle and Christian at the helm laughing and he knew his Uncle Alex would be all right without them. With that image, he brought his hand down in one swift movement and green brought him to where he belonged.

"That was a good day," noted Will.

"Agreed," said Bill. An odd laugh came out of him.

"What?" asked Will.

"You haven't noticed that Teachy was in your arm all day did you?" asked Bill.

Will's eyes moved to his right arm where his parrot was indeed nestled in the bend of his elbow. His cheeks flushed. "Not really."

"Didn't think so," said Bill.

"Shut it," Will told him.

Bill wrapped his arm around Will's shoulders. "I wouldn't have it any other way mac."

If his father saw it fine, but the rest of the crew was a different tale so Will looked around them. Gladly, the crew was doing what was necessary to the ship and quite unawares of them at the helm. He brought his parrot into his chest and wrapped his other arm around him before resting his jaw on the parrot's head. As he looked at the sunrise, he couldn't help but think to himself that may have been the best birthday celebration he ever had. One thing he knew indefinitely, the parrot in his arms was the second best birthday gift. Spending the day with his uncle was the best birthday gift.

Captain Turner, as custom to his new rules, gave his new member a day to accept his fate and understand what it meant to agree. In World's End, he found him at the bow, leaning on the rail, looking at the water.

Will slowly came next to him. He stood silent a moment. "Had a run in with the Royal Navy?" he asked calmly.

"Aye. A ship just coming from London to the Caribbean. I thought we could take her. It seems they've learned more about the pirate ways. I'll forever blame Lord Beckett for that. It was bound to happen though," Edward Raven replied. "We are a dying breed."

Will looked at him having heard that so many times before. "I should introduce myself," he noted holding out his hand. "Will Turner."

"Edward Raven," the man said, taking Will's hand. He looked at Will then at the scar on his chest. "Did it hurt?"

"What?" wondered Will.

"That," replied Edward, pointing to the scar.

"Not really. I was dead when it was taken out," said Will.

"I know I was there. I meant when Jones stabbed you," added Edward.

Slowly, Will looked at him with confused eyes and a wonder. "How did you know about that?"

"I know because I saw it. I was on the Black Pearl at the time," said Edward. "I was in the last battle with you and Swann and Jack. I saw most everything."

"Define everything," Will said, a part of him not wanting to know.

"Her speech for fighting, your wedding to Elizabeth, the kiss of passion that I had never seen before, I saw you stabbed, we brought Elizabeth and Jack back on the ship, you return from the dead, and the ending of the battle," said Edward. He looked at Will. "When I saw you back alive again, I knew pirates everywhere were safe again. There was not need to fear death on land or sea now. The true curse is broken and everything was as it should be. I'll never forget that day."

Will looked to the horizon. Even with his heart so far from him, tears still formed in his eyes. He remembered that day so well. He should after all. It was the day he died.

"Neither will I," he told Edward with his hand grasping the key.

Edward clutched his shoulder. He gave Will a smile of comfort and nodded.

Will nodded his thanks. "Have you met the rest of the crew?"

"Not so much," admitted Edward. "I've just been keeping to myself and watching you mostly."

"And what do you think of me?" wondered Will, ever so curious to know this answer.

"Alex was right about you. You are a good man, but a bit you have a bit of an attitude," Edward told him.

"How do you know my uncle anyway?" questioned Will.

Edward shut his mouth. He turned away and back to looking toward the sea. Alexander told him not to tell Will until he felt Will was ready to be told. It was heavy burden he bore, and every time he would look upon Will, the thought would come to mind and he would always want to tell him. There would be a time for telling, but not now.

He looked at Will. "He was a good friend of my family's and after my parents died, he kept an eye on me."

"Alex was known for that," noted Will. He set is palm on Edward's shoulder. "Come on."

Will motioned him to follow. He took him to the helm where Bill was at the wheel and a few others talking.

"Edward Raven, this is William Turner," said Will, motioning to his father.

"Rather Bootstrap Bill, Bootstrap, or just Bill," said Bill, shaking the man's hand.

"There's two of you?" wondered Edward.

"Aye, so don't be shouting for Turner and disturb both of us. He's Captain or Captain Turner. I'm First Mate Turner or any of the names I told you before," said Bill. He squeezed Will's shoulder. "He's my son."

Edward looked at Bill. "You. It was you. I remember Jack, more drunk than usual, came up to me and asked me if I knew how Will's father could cut out his son's heart." Bill looked at Will and shrugged. "Why you? He's your own son. How were you able to…" He pointed at the scar.

Bill looked away as his blue eyes filled with tears of pain. "He's my son, my only true treasure. Barely even knowing me, he swore to free me from Jones. He said he wouldn't rest until he pierced Jones's heart. He had done everything for me. In the end, even when my mind was part of the ship, he still held on. He chose Elizabeth, but can't have her now. I didn't want my son to die, but I watched him die. I carved his heart out because I love him more than my soul and everything good on this Earth. I should be sent to the deepest chasms of Hell to roam alone in pain for all eternity. It should be my heart in the chest, not my son's.

"Captain Turner, more souls have arrived," called Maccus.

"I'm coming," Will called back. He rolled his eyes at his father's personal pity party then headed for main deck.

Still at the helm, Bill watched his son with the crew as they prepared the longboats. Out of fury and pain, he slammed his fist onto the rail with a shout of fury.

Will and several others looked at him, but only Will shook his head and rolled his eyes again.

"He does have quite the attitude," noted Edward.

"You have no idea," Bill muttered as let his head fall into the palms of his hands against the rail.

"You really do love him don't you?" commented Edward.

"Aye," said Bill with a heavy sigh.

"There is a way to save him from this fate any longer," hinted Edward. "Whoever stabs the heart, his own replaces it was well as the Captain."

"I've already murdered Will once. I'm not doing it again," Bill told him.

"But I thought you loved him more than your own soul," Edward reminded before joining the rest of the crew on deck.

Bill thought of his words deeply. No one in any of the worlds could ever understand his longing to stab the heart, but the thought of it chilled him more and tortured his mind. It was his own son. Some may have considered killing his son to set his soul free and act of compassion, and it was an act of compassion. He lashed Will as an act of compassion long ago, but killing his son was something else. Killing another man with battle surrounding him was war. Killing a man during normal life was murder. Killing his son was murder. He was not going to murder his son.

His little Will was his child and the greatest thing to happen to him in his life. Having his son was the most important source of life to him. Had Will not become part of the crew he would had left the ship under the new captain.

Bill sighed further. Had Will not been captain then Jack would have been captain and Jack would have needed him just as much if not more. Either Jack or Will being captain he himself would have ended up moping on the ship anyway.

Knowing there was now no need to dwell on the words Edward spoke because they pertained to two people, he shook it off his mind. He trudged his feet down each stair and caught a smirk from Will as his son was leading an older sailor into the Great Cabin with him. Will's attitude was something he would have to work on.

Gazing into the beginnings of a sunset, Will thought of Elizabeth. They last saw each other four months ago and he knew it was about another month after he met with her he ran into his uncle and four months passed since his meeting with his uncle so nine months had gone by since they day of the battle and nine months was the amount of time needed to give birth to a child. Any day now Elizabeth was going to be a mother. As for him becoming a father, he technically was going to be a father but only a half father. What was she going to tell his child? Perhaps it was best not to tell their son that he existed and he died before he or she was born. He did want to be a father but it was much more difficult than that.

Will's eyes widened as his breathing became as steady as the beating in his body. If. If was the question he should have been asking himself. If Elizabeth survived childbirth then he would have to worry about being a father. Fourteen years ago he watched his mother die after giving birth to his sister and his sister died in his arms an hour later and that night he ran. Having a child killed his mother and if having his baby killed Elizabeth then it would kill him as well. He couldn't go on without knowing Elizabeth was alive. Ultimately, he would beg on his knees for his father to kill him and just let him go. He believed in a life after death. Everyday he saw the world beyond this one and if he had to live with Elizabeth in that world then fine, but hearing that she died giving birth to—

He cried out and whipped around with huge eyes. The quick whip around caused the hat on his head to fall over his eyes.

"Don't do that ever again. I may not have a heart inside me but you can still frighten the hell out of me," he snapped.

Bill's forefinger raised the tip of the hat to reveal his son's glaring eyes and clenched teeth, but he had to smile. "Will, you weren't breathing to begin with."

"It's been nine months since the battle and you know exactly what Elizabeth and I did that day," Will began.

"I think if Elizabeth was dead you would know," said Bill.

Will sighed and leaned on the rail. "It's been nine months since the battle and I haven't aged a day and my child is probably already born."

"Well, that's not a bad thing. After all, you are immortal," added Bill.

"Elizabeth isn't," reminded Will sadly.

"One day she'll come to you. That one day every decade will become everyday. Time just needs to pass," said Bill.

Will looked at his birthday gift. He could almost swear it was Jack Sparrow's beloved hat. It looked so similar. The color was just a touch darker.

But, as the warm breeze blew, Will shut his eyes, sighing deeply. His body was relaxed. Color came into his face. A smile widened slowly. He drew a deep breath. The feeling he longed for returned. Somehow, he felt his heart was back beating in his chest. Somewhere inside him, he heard her voice calling. Perhaps the wind came for the living world. Elizabeth was calling for him. He felt it in his soul. His mind was lost in the warmth of love.

"William," Bill softly called. No reaction came from his son. He called louder and shook him. "Will."

"Prepare the ship. We are returning to the true world," ordered Will softly.

"What now?" asked Bill.

"She's calling me," said Will turning. He took just a few steps before his father grabbed his arm.

"No, you have a duty to do," snapped Bill, keeping a firm grip on his son's arms.

"Even my soul needs peace sometimes," said Will, breaking away. "Prepare the ship to surface," he ordered.

The men went to their stations, but Bill.

Bill pinned Will against the mast by his arms. "William Turner, you listen to me son. You cannot continue to go to the other world each time you have this feeling. These souls need help finding their way to peace. You choose to be selfish and leave them here to rot. You are becoming Davy Jones!" he hollered furious. The crew paused to look at him. Bill looked at them. "Back to your stations!" He turned to shout at Will again, but Will had slunk under his arms and returned to the helm.

"Unlike Davy Jones I intend to return and free these souls immediately," said Will as his father came towards him.

"It's been five months Will. How can I expect you to last nine more years away from her?" wondered Bill.

"You seemed to have done it my entire life," Will told him. He immediately received a hard slap across the face.

"I didn't do it willingly," Bill said.

"Neither have I. You could have come back when you wished. I can't go back but once every decade or when our love is strong enough to call. You of all people should know that I keep the promises I make. I promised her."

"You must accept this fate. It was your destiny."

"Why? You seem to know everything about the sea so tell my why I'm here."

"Because your love is strong enough to counter the pain. You are strong Will, but you're not as strong as I thought you were."

"What is that supposed to mean? Just because I want my wife I'm weak?"

"When you have a whale bone for a leg and a crab claw for a hand and slimy tentacles hanging from your face don't come to sobbing into my arms wondering why they call you octopus face!" Bill Turner shouted.

Both Turners glared at each other in fury.

Bill opened his mouth. Nothing came. He shook his head before stomping away.

Will trembling fingers clenched around the wheel. He bit his lip to prevent him from saying anything else. Elizabeth was still calling and he could feel it strongly. One day wasn't going to turn him into Davy Jones.

Sitting on the dock off the coast of Isla del Sol, Elizabeth Turner kept a weather eye on the horizon. The sunrise was most beautiful, yet she wanted something else that was just as beautiful. She smiled down at the bundle of light blankets in her arms. She looked back to the horizon.

"Will," she called gently. "William Turner. Will." She began getting frustrated even more. Since before sunrise she had begun calling his name. It was after sunrise. The sun was above the horizon. Having enough, she hollered Will's name at the top of her lungs. There was a small squeak and movement from the blanket. She hushed them while moving part of them down.

Gazing back at the horizon, she saw what she wanted: a flash of green and a ship heading towards her. The smile on her face grew as she identified the man at the helm. Waiting patiently as the Flying Dutchman approached, she hummed a lullaby.

Elizabeth waved at the crewmembers that waved at her. A ladder was thrown over the side before Maccus came down to her.

"Your Majesty, welcome back," he greeted, giving her a hand. "I must warn you however, the two Turners had an argument just now and are a bit moody today."

"That's all right. I'm going to give Will a bit of a piece of my moody mind," said Elizabeth.

Very carefully, she climbed the ladder. She made sure the bundle was secure in her left arm. At the rail, she was helped aboard by several of the crew. Her eyes turned toward the stairs leading to the helm. Her eyes glowed with joy.

Will slowly came down them. He smiled before rushing to her. Elizabeth was pulled into one of their passionate kisses. Their foreheads touched a moment later.

Her smiled was large and excited.

Will set both hands on her round belly.

"No, Will, not anymore," said Elizabeth.

Another squeak came from the bundle causing Will to look at the blankets just as a tiny hand emerged.

Elizabeth set the bundle in his arms.

Will gazed at the bundle, into a small face that gazed back at him with his exact eyes. He held his child close to him. Atop the pink head were a few golden waves. The nose was so small. The eyes were barely open and blinked heavily at him. Forget that Elizabeth was still alive. This was his child. His child was alive.

All the crew surrounded them, noticing he had taken a particular interest in the blue blanket.

"It's a baby," noted Wyvern.

"A baby boy," added Elizabeth.

Hearing that it was a son, Will turned to Elizabeth with a huge wide toothed grin on his face.

"He's Captain Turner's son," said Greenbeard.

"A pirate prince," added Maccus.

Bill came from the hold as the crew awed and ogled at the child. He pushed his way through to see what all the excitement was about. He froze when two tiny eyes looked at him. His mouth widened into a smile as he moved closer. Will and Elizabeth looked at him.

Will took his son's tiny hand. The boy clenched his finger.

Bill touched the boy's forehead. He set his arm around Will.

Both had forgotten the argument minutes before. Everything was lost. They were content just looking at the child.

"He was born two sunrises ago on March twelfth," whispered Elizabeth. Will looked at her with an even wider smile.

"What's his name?" asked Will.

"I wanted you to name him," said Elizabeth.

"Name him Prince," blurted Karibe.

"No, name him Louis," said Wyvern.

"Captain, name him Jonathan," Greenbeard told him.

"Gentleman, how do we settle matters on this ship?" asked Will.

"Hanging those who don't agree by their toes," replied Karibe proudly. Everyone looked at him oddly. "Well, we should."

"No, we test our luck at a game of Dice," Will told them.

The crew burst into cheers as some went to fetch the game. Others pulled up boxes. The others brought cups and dice.

"Will," said Elizabeth softly, as the crew cracked their knuckles and stretched.

"It's called Liar's Dice, a game of luck and what pirates do best, lie," replied Will.

"How do you play?" wondered Elizabeth, slyly as she set her son in a basket in the shade.

Will had to smile.

"If you're anything like Will you'll catch on quickly," noted Bill. "He still can't be beat.

Will fetched a pillow for Elizabeth to sit on.

Maccus, Greenbeard, and Karibe as slammed their cups down. They glared at each other then peeked under their cup. Those not playing went around, seeing who had what.

"Five twos," stated Greenbeard.

"Eight twos," raised Maccus.

"Five sixes," bid Karibe.

They looked under their cups again.

Will glanced in each of their eyes noting Greenbeard had the sly look in his eyes.

"Ten twos," Greenbeard announced.

Maccus peeked under his cup. He looked at Greenbeard a moment. "Liar."

Elizabeth jumped causing Will to jump as well. He looked around making sure no one saw that.

Bill hid his laughter.

Elizabeth watched as Karibe, Maccus, and Greenbeard raised their cups. There were only nine twos.

Maccus laughed as Greenbeard stepped out and was replaced by Wyvern.

"Oh, I see," noted Elizabeth. "You don't need exact numbers. You bid all numbers and dice. How fun."

Will handed her a cup with dice.

She slammed her cup down as well.

The crew played Liar's Dice while the Dutchman sailed out to sea.

Elizabeth had gotten into most rounds, excluding the ones that were disrupted by her child. Hours later, she noticed just how quiet the child was. A moment ago he was fussing. Between rounds, she looked in the basket. She gasped and lost a few breaths. The baby wasn't there. She looked around. Will wasn't behind her. She glanced at the bow.

Will stood alone. He held something in his right arm.

Even from where she was, Elizabeth saw a smile on his face. She calmed and smiled.

Will Turner tickled his son's face with his forefinger. The baby grabbed his finger. He squeaked again. Will moved his finger and made small noises. His son looked out to sea.

"A true Turner," whispered Will. "Strong, brave, and having a love for the sea."

"Rum soaked liar!" Elizabeth screamed.

Will glanced at her then laughed. He looked at his son. "Your mother is going to take such good care of you. She'll love you forever and never let anything happen. She'll be there to heal your wounds, dry your tears, and comfort your loneliness," he said softly. He pulled the blanket more over his son as the cool sea breeze blew.

Bill came next to him. He looked at his son. "I'm sorry Will. I shouldn't have shouted at you earlier. It wasn't right of me to. She does love you. Her love is strong and longing is so pure. You felt that in the other world. Now I'm glad you ordered me to come back. It's for a very tiny reason," he apologized.

"Octopus face?" wondered Will with a laugh.

"Well…obviously," said Bill.

"I know you're just trying to take care of me. I know what I'm doing. As long as she's alive and happy I'll never become an octopus face," Will promised his father.

"When she isn't and if something happens, tell me. Don't try to last because then you will become octopus face. I'll spare you from that. I promise Will," said Bill.

"You once promised to take care of me and comfort my pain," began Will. Bill nodded, clutching his son's shoulder. "I'll soon need it."

Bill looked at the baby. He smiled.

Will handed his father his son.

Gentle and father like, Bill held his grandson. He swayed back and forth, bouncing the child. The baby squeaked more. Bill looked deep into the rich brown eyes. A strong memory came to him. He glanced at the baby then Will.

"Twenty-three years ago this was you. This small bundle in my arms was you. So vividly, I remember holding you in one arm wondering how anything could be this small. I look at this small boy then at the man you've become. I wonder how great your son will become. After all, he is a pirate prince. Elizabeth is Pirate King and you, my son, are Pirate Queen and captain of the greatest ship to ever sail the seas," he told him.

Will forced as smile that was just the problem. It was the one thing he feared, but as he raised his head, the smile became a true grin.

There, standing on the dock was his Uncle Alexander, arms folded and beaming back at Will.

"Alex!" Will screamed.

Carefully, so very carefully, he rushed from the ship and in front of his uncle.

"I guess I made it after all," said Alexander.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Will cried, wrapping his free arm around his uncle.

"You're welcome," replied Alexander. He pushed Will away. "Well, what do you think of him?"

Will lowered his head to look upon his blinking son who had a fascination with him suddenly. He gently poked his son's nose and caressed his little cheek with the back of his forefinger. "He's perfect."

"Everything went perfectly too. Childbirth went as well as it could and he's perfectly healthy," said Alexander. "Although Elizabeth does have a bone to pick with you William Seastone."

Understanding what he meant by that, Will's eyes narrowed and his nose wrinkled. He nodded his head. "You told her about an incident when I was seven and she six didn't you?"

"Yes, and she wants to strangle you for not admitting to it sooner seeing as you two could have been married when she was sixteen had you desired," said Alexander.

"And that is the reason why I did not say anything," Will told him. "I didn't want Weatherby forcing Elizabeth and I together if she didn't want me only because of a title. You know I always hated the idea of being betrothed because of a title. I always believed love will come. Besides, I couldn't very well have you coming to save me."

"Yes well, Weatherby would have wanted to know that her daughter married the match he wanted after all," noted Alexander.

"You know, I think he knew I was Seastone. I swore he knew. It took time for him to realize it, but I think he knew in the end. He wasn't fond of Elizabeth and I marrying, and when she asked for the reason of his objection his only response was because I was a blacksmith. Everything else about me was fine. He simply didn't approve of the idea that I was a blacksmith. He knew. I know he did," said Will.

"Most likely," agreed Alexander.

"Who else is here or is it just you?" wondered Will.

"Just me and the crew," said Alexander. "Father needed me to come to the Colonies to attempt to involve a few of them in the shipping trade.

"And?" wondered Will.

"Obviously these Colonists don't like us normal England dwellers right now and want nothing to do with us," said Alexander. "All we are attempting to do is keep them part of England, but no, they want their own country and land."

"It's the same for piracy Alex. We wanted to be left alone to and we have been left alone," said Will.

"And it took a battle to do so. Father and I believe there is war brewing between the Colonists and England. For the record, Carolina, Massachusetts, Virginia, and Pennsylvania ports are now signed under the Seastone Company."

Will chuckled not only for his uncle's pointless speech about the Colonists, but because he used his sweet tongue and use of words to get the main Colonies on his side. "What convinced them to agree?"

"We do business around the world and since several sailors are already under the Company they were glad to keep their work," said Alexander. Illustrating the importance of his next point, he turned and faced Will. "You know, I had sailors from all four Colonies make the comment it was about time we branch out to them. I think they like the idea."

"For now," said Will.

"Exactly what I'm thinking," agreed Alexander.

The bundle in his arms squeaking, Will bounced his arm gently. When the baby didn't stop squeaking and began to whine, his eyes widened and he began to panic. He felt his baby's bottom.

"That's why you're all squeaky. You need to be changed," he noted. "And you're probably hungry. Come on, let's go back to Daddy's ship and have Mummy get some food in you."

He wandered back onto his ship and kicked the crate Elizabeth was seated upon.

"I'm busy!" she snapped. "Two sixes."

"Someone's hungry," Will announced.

"Will you are quite capable of finding your own food," she snapped back with more bite.

"I'm not the one that is hungry," Will told her.

"Oh," said Elizabeth, turning her head. "Right."

"And I need to change him," added Will.

Elizabeth nodded. She pulled Bill down to play for her in her absence.

The new parents walked into the Great Cabin of the Dutchman and into Will's quarters where he set his little son on his cot. He unfolded the blanket and smiled as the baby boy's pink skin was exposed to the world.

"Alex told me father's generally aren't the ones who change the baby," said Elizabeth.

"Well fathers are normally going to be there everyday," said Will.

Elizabeth unexpectedly jabbed Will in both his sides with her fingers, pressing into him as hard as possible. "Try feeling like that for nine hours and it getting worse and never ending."

"If I could have gone through childbirth you know I would have," said Will.

"I know," said Elizabeth yet didn't seem quite convinced in her reply. "And, Lord Seastone, it hurts feeding him."

"Um, about that, I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but I'm sure Alex explained why," Will told her innocently.

"He did," Elizabeth said as she sat on the bed. She shook her head. "I just wish you would have told me when we found you. We could have had all the time in the world together and this could have been our third or fourth child by now and none—"

"Of this would have happened," finished Will nodding his head. "I know." He handed his hungry son to Elizabeth. "I try not to think about what could have been. That's how I get by."

"Yes, well that is more simply said than done William Turner," Elizabeth began.

Hearing no words not because he was ignoring her but because he was so carefully watching, Will felt himself slump lower on the bed. She was so beautiful and so gentle when handling him. He loved her so much. Yes, she was feeding him and ending his hunger pain, but he took to her better than he took to him. The sight should have been odd, but Will found it beautiful. On the ship or not doomed to the ship, he believed he would have found it beautiful. Elizabeth was more beautiful as a mother than she was when they were teenagers. There was a glow about her face as she spoke and a sparkle in her eyes and radiance that she never had before.

"Will, Will."

Will snapped out of it and looked right up at her face. "Hm?"

"Do you want to burp him?" asked Elizabeth.

Her response was Will taking the delicate angel into his arms and placing him over his shoulder and patting his back. It was now her few moments to watch him. He was perfect with his son over his shoulder. Her father did say that Will was going to become a natural wonderful father. He handled his little boy with such ginger love. Holding him now, he was glowing more brightly than the day she said "I do".

They would make it work somehow. Fathers left the family for months on end all the time around the world and their sons turned out just fine. Every few months Will could come back for a day to check up on him. As their child grew, he would be able to help him out with a few things and teach him a thing or two. Being a single mother wasn't as bad as she was thinking it would be. Alexander told her it would be difficult yes, but as long as there were people around her that would help, it would be easy. Thomas and Mrs. Jenkins were always there for her. Mrs. Jenkins was practically living at their home and helped her get through the past nine months smoothly. She had become a mother to her when she needed it.

A giggle from Will Turner blinked her out of her thoughts.

Will wrapped him in his blanket and laid him on the cot and he too lay down beside his son.

Elizabeth laid on the other side of her son.

The two looked at the little boy then each other. They were a family finally. Since the beginning of time and every family that passed through history, no sighting of a family could have been more loving. The most loving family in all the histories was not comparable to this one. The love the two had for each other and their son beamed throughout the room and onto the deck of the Flying Dutchman where the game was placed on temporary halt as the crew felt the warmth their captain was feeling inside of them.

That warm feeling caused one Bill Turner to tiptoe to the doorway and peek into the room. Will was lying on his side, knees bent, and forefinger caressing the babe's forehead. His sparkling, moist eyes did not leave the pink face. Elizabeth lay on her side more sprawled than Will but curled staring at her husband being a father. This was the reason why he could never kill his son to let him go. Will had a purpose in life more than to ferry souls. His son had to be a father. One way or another, he would see to it that his son was the father he always wanted to be.

An entire day later, Will and Elizabeth emerged hand in hand from the cabin doors. Of course, Will was carrying his son in one arm.

"Well, what should I name him?" he asked.

Every man shouted all the names he came up with. Dutchie. Skully. Swabby. Crab-cake. Rummy. Sea-bound. Cursed. Pirate. Tommy. David. Jonesey. Jack Swallow. Del Sol. Mar. The best one had to be Wilzabeth Swanner.

"I appreciate the ideas, but no thanks," said Will laughing. He glanced at his wife. "I know this is odd, considering there is already two of us, but I find it most appropriate. His name is William."

"James," added Elizabeth in honor of her best friend.

"Turner," said both Will and Elizabeth.

"The third," added Bill.

"A Will Turner you can hold and love everyday whose heart will always beat inside him," added Will.

Elizabeth pulled her husband into a kiss of comfort.

Will sighed heavily, looking at the sunset colored Isla del Sol. He glanced at the sunset. "Nine years and three months from now, you and I will meet again," he told her.

"On land yes," said Elizabeth.

"No, you are not to come back onto this ship. You and little William are not to see me until I can return to land," said Will.

"Will why?"

"I wish you to raise our son normal. I do not want him to know of all this until he is old enough not to tell and understand."

"No, I'm not keeping you a secret from your son."

"Don't. Tell him I am a sailor on the other side of the world doing a duty that only I can be charged with. My duty is to help other people and it is very important."

"The chest, Will. Your heart. All this. All we've been through."

"Hide the chest from him and the world. Tell him of our adventures as soon as possible. Let him grow up knowing they are legends and tales of the sea. Days before I may return to land tell him the truth behind them all."

"Growing up without a father."

"I did it. He can as well."

"Now I see why you didn't know what to say when I told you I was bearing child."

"Elizabeth, my darling," Will whispered, taking her and his son into his arms. "This is the price that must be paid. You still have me. I'm not gone forever. Once this decade is over and our son has grown as normal as he can be then you may come to me as often as you wish. I know how difficult this will be for you and our son. You have each other though. You can do something I can only dream of. The next time I'll see my son, he'll be nine and I'll see what he truly is. You can watch him grow."

"You don't have to do this," pleaded Elizabeth.

"Be strong and brave. We can do this and we must," Will told her. He took off his necklace with shells and beads. He handed her the black cord. "Give this to him as proof. Every night kiss him for me. Sing both of us to sleep. Love and cherish him the way I would. Tell him of me each day. Tell him of today. Tell him how much I love him and how badly I long to hold him again." He looked at his son, fighting to hold back the tears.

Will stood in the sunlight watching his son sleep. He rocked him and caressed his forehead. The baby woke. He squeaked as he took his father's finger. Will gazed at him, forever branding an image in his mind.

"I love you little Will. I love you. Every night for nine years, I'll say it. I'll say I love you. I'll never stop thinking of you. You're my pirate son. As long as you know you're a Turner, I'll never stop. Love me as well." He kissed his son's forehead. Leaving his lips on his son, he shut his eyes. A tear gently fell from his eye. "Keep a weather eye on the horizon. I love you." He blinked. He and his son gazed into each other's eyes.

Slowly and unwillingly, Will Turner set his son in Elizabeth's arms.

She pulled her husband into a kiss.

Will held her tight in a desperate hug that would need to last nine years.

Elizabeth breathed deeply. She had to remember his scent of sweat, seawater, and rum.

Will did the same to her clean, sweet, fragrance and the smell of baby.

Unwillingly, both let the other go.

Will brushed her tear away with his thumb.

"I love you Mrs. Turner," he said.

"I love you Captain Turner," Elizabeth whispered.

"Wait for me," requested Will.

"Always," replied Elizabeth.

Will kissed both. He was dragged into one last desperate hug. He kissed his son's head again. He let little William clutch his finger. Not able to resist it, Will pulled away.

"Go," he hoarsely whispered to Elizabeth.

With one last look, Elizabeth climbed over the side. Alexander awaited her arrival with an open arm. She did not look back as she held William close. She walked home with Will's uncle's arm around her shoulder. It would be all right. He promised he would bring the rest of Will's family one day. Things would be all right. It was only nine years. She could do this. She had to do this.

Sailing away from his wife and son, Will fought hard to hold his tears. He quickly returned to World's End. He hurried to his cabin.

Bill followed. He found Will sitting on the cot, trembling and biting his lip to hold it back. He sat beside his son and set his arm around Will's shoulder.

"I promise," he whispered.

Will shut his eyes, choking on his tears. He sobbed into his father's shoulder.

Bill wrapped his arms around him. He tucked Will's head under his chin. He hushed his son and gently swayed back and forth, and forth and back.